Over and over again, Glenn Beck proclaimed that yesterday's conservative shindig in the nation's capitol was NOT a political event. During most of the festivities, both Beck and the other speakers steered clear of obvious partisan politics. More references were made to the Christian God and President Obama's name never came up.
So does this mean that Beck's rally was indeed a non-political one? Hardly!
While it may not have been Political with a capital P, the whole affair WAS about politics.
Politics is about the power relations within any type of group. Politics rears its head when we discuss the power relations within a nation all the way down to the power relations in your local garden club or your family. It's about how decisions are made and who gets to make them. It's about lobbying others to see issues from your perspective. It's about who gets ahead and who's left behind. In reality, life is politics.
When people like Beck (hey, it happens just as much on the left) want to hide the fact that an event or activity implicitly is political, they play a silly game. They go out of their way not to mention specific political parties, leaders, candidates or substantive issues. By steering clear of what would be considered partisan, they are able to claim falsely that no political motivation is involved.
But how can a person genuinely believe that saying we need to return America to God is NOT an expression of that person's belief in a certain perspective regarding power relations? It openly suggests a specific political course. It openly suggests which specific candidates for public office that a person will support. It openly suggests what types of laws and policies a person will advocate on behalf of. It defines a person's political perspective.
Glenn Beck may not have shaken his big P at the assembled crowd, but his little p definitely was on display.
So does this mean that Beck's rally was indeed a non-political one? Hardly!
While it may not have been Political with a capital P, the whole affair WAS about politics.
Politics is about the power relations within any type of group. Politics rears its head when we discuss the power relations within a nation all the way down to the power relations in your local garden club or your family. It's about how decisions are made and who gets to make them. It's about lobbying others to see issues from your perspective. It's about who gets ahead and who's left behind. In reality, life is politics.
When people like Beck (hey, it happens just as much on the left) want to hide the fact that an event or activity implicitly is political, they play a silly game. They go out of their way not to mention specific political parties, leaders, candidates or substantive issues. By steering clear of what would be considered partisan, they are able to claim falsely that no political motivation is involved.
But how can a person genuinely believe that saying we need to return America to God is NOT an expression of that person's belief in a certain perspective regarding power relations? It openly suggests a specific political course. It openly suggests which specific candidates for public office that a person will support. It openly suggests what types of laws and policies a person will advocate on behalf of. It defines a person's political perspective.
Glenn Beck may not have shaken his big P at the assembled crowd, but his little p definitely was on display.
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